National Cancer Institute's Community Network Programs for reducing cancer health disparities: A summary of current outcomes research

The National Cancer Institute Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities (CRCHD) Community Networks Program (CNP) aims to reduce cancer health disparities by: 1) increasing access to and utilization of beneficial cancer interventions in communities affected by disparities, and 2) providing a cadre of well-trained researchers who will continue to reduce disparities in their communities. In 2004, 25 programs were awarded grants to serve underserved populations such as racial/ethnic minorities and low-income rural residents. CNPs are designed to progress through three phases of development: 1) develop and increase capacity building to support community-based participatory education, research, and training to reduce cancer disparities, 2) create community-based participatory research training programs to reduce health disparities, and 3) establish credibility and sustainability of the Community Networks Program. Programs conduct studies on the effectiveness of their community-based primary and secondary efforts to reduce cancer in underserved populations. Targeted outcomes include decreased tobacco use, increased cancer screening participation, increased knowledge regarding available health resources, and others. Grantees submit data on planned studies, design, samples, as well as citations for published results to a central database.

The proposed presentation will summarize cross-site progress on outcomes research and highlight results of successful community-based interventions.